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by Avril O’Connor Bedfordshire’s only Michelin star restaurant is tucked away in a corner of England’s finest countryside, within a beautiful piece of parkland on the Woburn Abbey estate. It’s barely sign-posted on the A4012 so I miss the entrance … Continue reading →

Every so often we visit a very special hotel and spa – the Vineyard at Newbury is one of those places. It’s because the people who work there go that extra mile to make their guests feel totally at home and every corridor is a living art gallery.Continue reading →

by Avril O’Connor Butterflies in December, hillsides bursting with the brilliant red flowers of the poinsetta tree and sunshine so warm that you can sit outside and soak it up until early evening. That is Madeira in winter…the Portuguese island … Continue reading →

by Avril O’Connor The vista is of grapevines which stretch as far as the eye can see. Only the buzzing sound of cicadas can be heard as the sun goes down amid the heat of the late afternoon. On the … Continue reading →

This hotel is just pure class. Just like the world-renowned Eden Rock in Antibes, in the South of France, its pool is set on a striking rocky outcrop. The views are spectacular and its hard to believe that this tranquil … Continue reading →

At Elixir we promote the anti-ageing properties of red wine – it is full of antioxidants, including resveratrol. And we thought the only way to sample the anti-ageing effects was to drink it! So you might perhaps understand my shock when I sampled vinotherapy for the first time.Continue reading →

The Jumeirah Hotel and Spa at Port Soller on the north-west coast of Mallorca is one of the most beautiful and luxurious resorts in Spain. And that view is shared by the spa experts at CondeNast Traveller, which shortlisted it … Continue reading →

France is twice the size of Britain and has a population of just over 62m – a few thousand more than the UK – which is why there is so much more space to get away from the hustle and … Continue reading →

Headlines

A large analysis of current research shows that people who eat at least 20g of nuts a day have a lower risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases. The analysis of all current studies on nut consumption and disease … Continue reading →

Improving your gut health is a simple way to make a real difference to your health and wellbeing, particular since it is now implicated in many diseases. It’s also that time again when we pledge to become fitter, better versions … Continue reading →

Is there really a cure for ageing? Scientists discover breakthrough procedure to replace specific parts of ageing cells by getting them to eat themselves to death. • As we age, our mitochondrial DNA mutates, deteriorating and eventually killing off cells … Continue reading →

John Lewis is matching prices against a competitor’s promotion as well lowering hundreds of prices even further over the weekend. Black Friday creative is now available in the interface, and some top deals to call out include the following: Electricals: … Continue reading →

Living DNA is a personal DNA service, designed to help people understand more about themselves and where they came from in unparalleled detail. A sample is collected from inside the mouth using a swab and the DNA analysed against various … Continue reading →

by Avril O’Connor Morocco is one of those exotic places that most of us dream about visiting. In the past because of its ‘in’ destination status its been very expensive particularly during the peak season which is basically our winter … Continue reading →

An injectable drug, Repatha, has been shown to dissolve damaging arterial plaques in a new patient trial. Plaque deposits are responsible for clogging up arteries and contribute to blood clots – a major cause of heart attacks. Clots block the … Continue reading →

Dementia is now the leading cause of death in England and Wales, new figures from the UK’s Office of National Statistics reveal. The neurological disorder has now overtaken coronary heart disease at the top of the table. It was the … Continue reading →

Chloé’s signature scent truly embodies the creative, confident individuality of the Chloé woman: a fresh, feminine fragrance with an innate sense of chic. The perfume is created with a mix of natural and couture ingredients. The bottle is made with … Continue reading →

These lovely leggings would make a perfect present and/or stocking filler. Classy, sophisticated and alluring – these legs will win you admiring glances, update your winter wardrobe and you will get compliments from other ladies – asking where you bought … Continue reading →

Avril's blog

On the plane back from a recent holiday in Marrakesh – and likely the last of the summer as it was in September – I was pleased to see in the Easyjet onboard store a Tan Maximizer by Lancaster (Coty). … Continue reading →

Guys Blog

It seems we need to go green!! The debate over the use and benefits green tea has been lengthy. There has always been a view that drinking green tea helps with weight loss. It came up again a couple of … Continue reading →

Katy's Blog

In her first blog for Elixir – Treat the Skin You’re In – Katy Hall reveals why she has a passion for helping people solve their skin concerns. Hello and welcome. I’m Katy Hull and anti-aging is my passion! I … Continue reading →

Ask the Experts

Costas Papageorgiou has recently set up a facial cosmetic surgery practice in London after a move from Beverly Hills. In this interview he answers Elixir’s questions on his personal philosophy and ethic around cosmetic surgery: What are your professional qualifications? … Continue reading →

WOW v MEOW!

Celebrity Health

A new study has confirmed that tests for the cancer gene BRCA have continued to soar following Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a double mastectomy after a similar test. BRCA testing rates surged nearly 40% in the week of Angelina … Continue reading →

Best known as Eastenders troublemaker Janine Butcher, bringing drama to Albert Square with a medley of cocaine addition, murder and prostitution, Charlie Brooks is now taking her talent on tour, playing Sandra in the iconic play, Beautiful Thing. The ‘Walford … Continue reading →

Having begun her career as the protégée of the famously fiery Gordon Ramsay, chef Angela Hartnett has gone onto make a name for herself as one of Britain’s best-loved chefs. Her trademark style is simple but sophisticated Italian cuisine, a love … Continue reading →